Parley Votes to Establish European Zionist Council

November 9, 1954

BRUSSELS (Nov. 8)

A decision to establish a European Zionist Council to coordinate and encourage Zionist activities throughout Western Europe was unanimously adopted at its closing session here early this morning after an all-night meeting. The composition of the council, however, was left to the Jewish Agency executive, acting in consultation with European Zionist leaders and organizations.

The conference, the third since the end of World War II, expressed the solidarity of 100,000 European Zionists with Israel’s “struggle for territorial integrity, free development and peace in the Middle East.” It opposed the West’s arming of the Arab states and insisted that if the plans to arm the Arabs go through, Israel should be granted equal quantities of weapons for self-defense.

Britain’s recent assurances concerning Israel’s security were welcomed by the delegates, but they felt that the terms of the Tripartite Declaration of 1950 did not provide Israel with tangible guarantees and proper protection against a second round of war by the Arabs. Egypt’s Suez Canal blockade was scored.

The parley hit the arrest of Zionist leaders in Rumania and demanded their release and right to emigrate. It also asked that all restrictions on Israel-bound immigration from East Europe be removed by the Communist governments there.

Other resolutions urged greater efforts in behalf of Jewish and Hebrew education of youth, the organization of immigration to Israel and the encouragement of tourism and investment in Israel. Zionist organizations were also asked to encourage outstanding non-Jews in their countries to visit Israel and see for themselves the “new civilization” being created there.